In the pursuit of their dream of a third African Cup of Nations (Afcon) title, Ivory Coast finds itself at a crucial juncture, guided by the insightful perspective of former Ivorian international striker, Arouna Koné.
As the nation prepares to host the prestigious football competition for the first time since 1984, Koné emphasizes a strategic plan: attack all opponents with the same mentality.
The echoes of past victories, notably in 1992 and 2015, reverberate within the hearts of the Ivorian team, infusing them with the desire for a third star to grace their national jersey. However, amidst this fervent ambition, Koné sheds light on a persistent flaw that has lingered across generations of Elephants.
The football landscape has evolved since Ivory Coast last hosted the tournament, and to claim victory on home soil this time, the team must confront and overcome weaknesses that have endured for decades.
“The flaws are not new,” he said.
“From our time until today, Elephants have always had two faces. We play according to the opponent. However, this is what plays a bad trick on us at a given moment in a competition. We too often tend to minimize so-called weak teams. When we meet them, we fall asleep a little. And often we are surprised. It’s especially this side that we need to work on.
“We must attack all our opponents in the same way and with the same seriousness. When we come across an opponent who is not at our level, we must respect him. When we take the field, we must do everything we can to neutralize this team as quickly as possible. You should never show an opponent that you are superior before the confrontation. You have to be humble. The truth is on the ground and not off it. We have sometimes been victims of this.
“We are often surprised and by the time we wake up, the match is already over. We must take all opponents seriously. The seven matches will have to be played like finals. And a final is won. If our younger brothers have this mentality, there is no reason why we should not pick up this 3rd star,” he ended.